Precious Movie

You'd be forgiven for not recognizing Mariah Carey in her role as a dowdy welfare caseworker in the urban drama "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire." The legendarily high-maintenance pop diva underwent a soup-to-nuts physical transformation, checking her glossy celebrity patina at the door in order to convincingly portray the film's Ms. Weiss: a drab but deeply empathetic soul helping a troubled teenager in '80s Harlem. Far from the image Carey has cultivated for years, the character is no oil painting of music-video pulchritude, with her lank hair, a wardrobe of rayon sweater-coats and, yes, even a sparse mustache creeping across her upper lip. "I had to lose all vanity," Carey said.

"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" dominated the nominations for the 41st NAACP Image Awards on Wednesday morning, earning eight nods: best film, best director for Lee Daniels, screenplay for Geoffrey Fletcher, best actress for Gabourey Sidibe, supporting actress for Mariah Carey, Mo'Nique and Paula Patton, and supporting actor for Lenny Kravitz. Competing with "Precious" in the best picture category are "The Blind Side," "Invictus," "Michael Jackson's This Is It" and "The Princess and the Frog."

Long before it opened, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" had racked up plaudits for its groundbreaking depiction of the inner life of a black, overweight, ghetto-dwelling teenage girl. But since its release, a story-outside-the-story has developed that's equally fresh and complicated: black people's reaction to the movie and what it means. FOR THE RECORD: 'Precious': An article last Sunday about reaction to the movie "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" referred to the comments of a blogger named Tiffany on the website Racialicious.

Long before it opened, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" had racked up plaudits for its groundbreaking depiction of the inner life of a black, overweight, ghetto-dwelling teenage girl. But since its release, a story-outside-the-story has developed that's equally fresh and complicated: black people's reaction to the movie and what it means. FOR THE RECORD: 'Precious': An article last Sunday about reaction to the movie "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" referred to the comments of a blogger named Tiffany on the website Racialicious.

This powerful story of an illiterate, abused, pregnant, obese Harlem teen in the '80s has captured the imagination of moviegoers with standout performances by Mo'Nique as Precious' nightmare of a mother, a dowdy Mariah Carey as her social worker and remarkable newcomer Gabourey Sidibe as Precious. It doesn't take much more than an alternative school and an attentive teacher in Paula Patton's Ms. Rain to start turning things around for a teenager most of the world had written off. For those who worry that the story is too dark, director Lee Daniels has built in a safety valve for both Precious and for us -- fantasy sequences that are as funny as they are telling.

"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" has attracted abundant film festival awards and critical raves, including enthusiastic endorsements from talk-show host Oprah Winfrey and filmmaker Tyler Perry. Now it's time to see what that's all worth. The stark drama about a sexually abused teenager premieres Friday, and Lionsgate is hoping to convert the film's early support into ticket sales during a time when audiences are steering clear of serious subject matter.critical raves For "Precious" to succeed at the box office, it must appeal to two divergent audiences simultaneously.

"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" dominated the nominations for the 41st NAACP Image Awards on Wednesday morning, earning eight nods: best film, best director for Lee Daniels, screenplay for Geoffrey Fletcher, best actress for Gabourey Sidibe, supporting actress for Mariah Carey, Mo'Nique and Paula Patton, and supporting actor for Lenny Kravitz. Competing with "Precious" in the best picture category are "The Blind Side," "Invictus," "Michael Jackson's This Is It" and "The Princess and the Frog."

Christmas came early at the box office this year, but not for the studio that expected it. Walt Disney Studios' "A Christmas Carol," produced at a cost of nearly $200 million, opened to a weak $31 million in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates. But the somber, well-reviewed festival favorite "Precious," which Lionsgate acquired at the Sundance Film Festival for $5.5 million, sold $1.8 million worth of tickets at just 18 theaters, setting a limited-release record.

Deal or no deal? When it comes to distribution rights to "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," a federal judge has told Harvey Weinstein that he doesn't have one. Poised to become one of the fall's most talked-about dramas when it premieres Nov. 6, "Precious" landed in a legal skirmish days after the film was sold following the Sundance Film Festival in January. Lionsgate Films announced that it had acquired director Lee Daniels' harrowing account of a young African American woman's personal life.

Fiction 1. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson ($14.95) 2. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout ($14) 3. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery ($15) 4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows ($14) 5. Push by Sapphire ($13) 6. The Road by Cormac McCarthy ($14.95) 7. Precious (movie tie-in) by Sapphire ($13)

This powerful story of an illiterate, abused, pregnant, obese Harlem teen in the '80s has captured the imagination of moviegoers with standout performances by Mo'Nique as Precious' nightmare of a mother, a dowdy Mariah Carey as her social worker and remarkable newcomer Gabourey Sidibe as Precious. It doesn't take much more than an alternative school and an attentive teacher in Paula Patton's Ms. Rain to start turning things around for a teenager most of the world had written off. For those who worry that the story is too dark, director Lee Daniels has built in a safety valve for both Precious and for us -- fantasy sequences that are as funny as they are telling.

Christmas came early at the box office this year, but not for the studio that expected it. Walt Disney Studios' "A Christmas Carol," produced at a cost of nearly $200 million, opened to a weak $31 million in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates. But the somber, well-reviewed festival favorite "Precious," which Lionsgate acquired at the Sundance Film Festival for $5.5 million, sold $1.8 million worth of tickets at just 18 theaters, setting a limited-release record.

"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" has attracted abundant film festival awards and critical raves, including enthusiastic endorsements from talk-show host Oprah Winfrey and filmmaker Tyler Perry. Now it's time to see what that's all worth. The stark drama about a sexually abused teenager premieres Friday, and Lionsgate is hoping to convert the film's early support into ticket sales during a time when audiences are steering clear of serious subject matter.critical raves For "Precious" to succeed at the box office, it must appeal to two divergent audiences simultaneously.

You'd be forgiven for not recognizing Mariah Carey in her role as a dowdy welfare caseworker in the urban drama "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire." The legendarily high-maintenance pop diva underwent a soup-to-nuts physical transformation, checking her glossy celebrity patina at the door in order to convincingly portray the film's Ms. Weiss: a drab but deeply empathetic soul helping a troubled teenager in '80s Harlem. Far from the image Carey has cultivated for years, the character is no oil painting of music-video pulchritude, with her lank hair, a wardrobe of rayon sweater-coats and, yes, even a sparse mustache creeping across her upper lip. "I had to lose all vanity," Carey said.

Deal or no deal? When it comes to distribution rights to "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," a federal judge has told Harvey Weinstein that he doesn't have one. Poised to become one of the fall's most talked-about dramas when it premieres Nov. 6, "Precious" landed in a legal skirmish days after the film was sold following the Sundance Film Festival in January. Lionsgate Films announced that it had acquired director Lee Daniels' harrowing account of a young African American woman's personal life.

Eddie Murphy had a simple suggestion about six years ago: Why not make an all-black version of "Ocean's Eleven"? Director Brett Ratner and producer Brian Grazer loved the comedian's idea, and before long, the trio was throwing around ideas about who could star opposite Murphy: Jamie Foxx, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan and Chris Tucker headed the list. The resulting movie, Universal Pictures' "Tower Heist," arrives in theaters this weekend, where it will face solid competition from Warner Bros.' "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.

Tony Bennett pours forth from the speakers, but that's about the only concession this ski-resort-town Italian restaurant makes to ethnicity; its menu includes French dip sandwiches and burgers.